Thousands feared dead from Haiti magnitude 7.2 quake on 14 Aug 2021

A precise picture of the effects of the quake will need much more time, but unfortunately, the situation is not looking good. It is feared that the quake, which was even stronger than the catastrophic 2010 quake in Haiti 75 km east from today's earthquake, claimed a large number of fatalities on top of widespread damage.

USGS data posted "Red alert for shaking-related fatalities", indicating that there is a high likelihood of many casualties and widespread disaster from this quake, along with substantial economic losses.

An estimated 843,000 people were exposed to strong shaking (intensity VI), and more than 643,000 to the much more dangerous intensity VII of very strong shaking from the quake, the latter often leading to collapse of weakly built buildings. Modeled estimated of fatalities to expect range between 1,000-10,000: "High casualties are probable and the disaster is likely widespread. Past events with this alert level have required a national or international level response."

Based on modeled shaking intensity, population and infrastructure data, the estimated economic losses are most likely in the range of 100-1000 million USD or 0-3% GDP of Haiti.

According to USGS, "the population in this region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though resistant structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are mud wall and adobe block construction."



Secondary effects from the quake such as landslides are likely to increase damage.

Earthquake data:
Date & time: 14 Aug 2021 8:29 am (GMT -4) local time (14 Aug 2021 12:29 GMT)
Magnitude: 7.1
Depth: 10.0 km
Epicenterlatitude / longitude: 18.34°N / 73.44°W (Arrondissement d'Aquin, Sud, Haiti)
Primary data source: GFZhttps://www.volcanodiscovery.com/earthquake/news/138367/Thousands-feared-dead-from-Haiti-magnitude-72-quake-on-14-Aug-2021.html